Electrical resistor for lamp sockets



March 8, 1949. 1 soKoLoFF ELECTRICAL RESISTOR FOR LAMP SOCKETS Filed Dec. 30, 1944 ul 'I n I NVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,463,816 ELECTRICAL ESISTOR FOR LAMP SO'CKE'IK'S Louis Sokoloi, Chicago, Ill. l

Application December 30, 1944, Serial No. 570,593

(Cl. 20L-49) 8 Claims.

My invention relates in general to electrical resistors. It relates more in particular to an electrical resistor in the general shape of a washer, insertable in the same socket with a lamp, and functioning to decrease the voltage to the lamp and thereby increase its life.

Frequently, it is desirable to provide special lamps, for example, for exit lights, to mark fire escapes, for pilot lights, and the like, where the brilliancy or light efciency is not as important as lamp life and the assurance of the lamps continued operation even though not serviced for long periods of time. Some higher rated lamps are produced. These lamps are too limited in rating and are not readily obtainable. Dealers do not ordinarily carry them in stock. Introduction of a resistance to decrease the voltage to the lamp will have the effect of greatly increasing the life of an ordinary stock size lamp when used in a position where long life is essential. A washer type electrical resistor of the type hereinbelow described, may be mounted in the same socket with a lamp to have the desired effect of increasing lamp life. Such a resistor may be loosely installed so that it will fall out when a lamp is removed; it may be removably secured in place or optionally locked in position. The resistance may be fixed or Variable, and, preferably, means are provided to shunt out the resistance entirely, said shunting out means desirably being made available to an authorized person who may wish to use the full line voltage while the resistor is locked in the socket. As stated above, the washer resistor of the present invention is used in public places and is primarily a safety feature for pilot lights, exit lights, re escape lights, etc. The lights or lamps thus used are of small size since light brilliancy is not important thereby creating little heat at the resistor and there is no problem of heat dissipation.

Detailed features and advantages of the invention will be understood by a consideration of the following description of the specific embodiment which is shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figl 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away and shown in vertical section, illustrating a theftproof lamp socket combination having disposed in the theftproof lamp socket thereof, a washer type electrical resistor having the novel features of my invention, a lamp being indicated as contained in the same socket;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing the main parts of the variable resistance;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the manner in which the variable resistance may-be shunted out; and

Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified meansfor holding the resistor in a socket, this form other- Wise being the same as in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

While the resistor of my present invention may be used in any usual type 0f socket, I illustrate its use in connection with a theftproof lamp socket of the type shown in my prior Patent No. 2,194,329. In the form there shown, the washer type resistor, indicated generally by the reference character I0, is secured in a rotatable shell II of an adapter lock socket carrying a lamp I2. The shell I I is rotatable on an adapter lock plug I3, adapted to be locked, if desired, in a socket I4, by means such as shown in my prior patent. The resistor I0 is placed between and engages both the center lamp contact and a center Contact I6, thus placing a Yresistance between these two contacts by means which will later be described. Center contact I B is held in position by a center rivet I'I, which also has its head in electrical engagement with the center contact I8 of socket I4. The shell contact II is electrically connected to the shell contact of socket I4 through the fastening screws I9v in the manner described in my prior patent. A protective shell 2I is pivoted to the socket I3, also in the manner described in my prior patent, whereby to prevent removal of the lamp I2. Thus I provide one Way in which the removal of the resistor I3 may be assured, even though it be of a type which is merely loosely disposed in the socket, as contrasted with being secured, or locked therein.

Further description of the washer type electrical resistor I0 will show that it may be used in various ways,.and in any conventional type of socket, or even in a specially constructed socket, should there be any reason for so doing. In the form shown in Figs. l to 5, inclusive, there is a cup-like member 22 and a disk 23, the edge of the member 22 being peened or spun over the edge of the disk member to produce a closed housing. The annular portion 24 of the cup-like member is formed to provide large threads .for engagement in the usual threads of a lamp socket. Slot-like impressions 26 are suitably formed to permit engagement by a suitable tool to screw resistor member I0 into position.

The housing is provided with a pair of pivoted curved dogs 21 functioning as selectively engaging locking members. As shown in Fig. 2, the dogs 21 are so arranged that when they are placed in one position and the disk-like or Washer type resistor member I screwed into position, the said member cannot be Withdrawn; but when placed in the opposite position the said resistor member can ,.beuwithdrawn.l "Ihev dogs l21 may have thesame gen'eralconstruction and function as the members 4| of my prior patent and may there-by be movable between locking and nonlocking positions for, respectively, permitting disengaging movement or preventing disengaging movement of the variable resistance member. I

The variable resistance unit itself ishel'd within the housing formed byvthecupm22. and disk `23, and comprises a ring shaped disk of mica* or the like around which resistance wire 29 is helically Wound. The 4outer and inner edges of the disk 21B may be .serratedornotched in the mannershown lto separate the resistance 'Wire 29 from the edges thereof and therebyvavoid possible contact *with` the metal comprisingthe housing. An insulati'ngspacer` 3l of mica or'the like is placed on one side of the yresistance carrying disk 28 and has a ring shapedcenter contact member 32 which .is connected with one end of theV resistancewirelS. The other end of the resistancewire 29 iswfastenedin position but is not electrically connected into the-,circuitexcept inso far as it may be contactedby an adjustable arm for controlling the amount of resistance in the lamp circuit. On the` opposite side to the spacer 3l is ap-ring shapedspacer 33 havingan integral radial projection 34. TheA spacer 33 is formed of 4insulating `material .such asmica.or the like. Still another spacer 36-is provided and this spacer utilizes ay .center lring Contact 31 and an integral wiper arm38. The arm 38 is shaped so `.that a ycontact portion thereof will. have a springengagementwith the convolutions ofthe Wire29andisso related' to the projection .34 that the latter mayy act asa stop .tolirnit rotary movementof the .sub-assembly comprising the spacer 36. 'Ifhe spacer v.36 is yprovided with a notch 39 for. the introduction of a tooll such as a ,screw driver for adjusting the. position of the .arm 38. l

The several parts comprising the resistor vIll are. nested together, in the same order in ,which the parts are pictured in Fig. 4,"with the electrical connection made to the ,contact .member Y32, as previously. described, and the parts are then secured together to produce ak construction such as indicated in Figs. Land 3. Y. The l,contact 32 makesA a connection .with the center contact member I6, fas, particularlyseen in, Fig`..3, and an electrical yconnection is therebyalso madeto one` endof the resistance wire'. 29.The center contact of the usual rated .voltage lamp l2 connectsfto the ring contact 31 and a connection is thereby made through ,the arml38 to the opposite. end of so much of the resistance wire 29 as is connected into the circuit as determined by the position ofthe arm 38. The lamount of resistance can be predetermined by the use of indicating marks (not shown) on the relatively movingparts of theresistor I0 or in any other suitable manner such as by yusing a voltmeter in autest set up to meet conditions required in a particular-installation. With the identical. yconstruction of resistor shown in the drawings, some resistance will vbe introduced. into thel circuit,regardless of l.the adjustment of thearm 38 although the arm-38 can be adjusted to cause said resistance to be substantially negligible. An authorized person may wish to utilize the full voltage of the outlet without disturbing the adjustment of arm 38, and he may be permitted to do so by utilizing a special base 4| having a center contact 42 which is capable of extending through the relatively wide center opening ring contact 31 and directly into` contact Iwith the .Center Contact 32 which is "itself directly in contact with the center socket contact I6. This not only permits utilization of the full line voltage, but avoids the possibility of burning out the resistance wire 29 such as might occurvrif a, power unitA such as of a vacuum cleaner or the like were connected with the outlet socket.

I have previously stated that the resistor I0 may .be formed. merely to lit loosely in a socket, or to be fastened therein. The threads 24 will permit the resistor to be releasably secured in place, and by adjustingl the dogs 21 to the positionA shown in Fig. 2, before the resistor is screwed intoy position, the said resistor may be locked in position. l l v In Fig. 6 I show a dresistor which may be merely pushed into a socket,4 and held therein by a plurality of spring. extensions 43 on the shell 22. These extensions 43 on the shell 22,*may be a part thereof or may be secured thereon in any suitableway as bybrazing or Welding. The parts of the` resistor of Fig. 6 may otherwise be the same as in Figs.,1,to 5 and this fact is indicated bythe use' of the same reference characters. The dogs 21 are, of course, missing frornlig. 6, thespring extensions 43 beingused instead.

. Asv previously noted,l the advantages of the combination of my invention are obtainable, particularly where light eiiiciency is not so much a factor as the life of a lamp which may be used. When areasonable resistance is placed in a lamp socket,. the life of the lamp lwill be increased about ten. times and thepossibility of a lamp burning out is decreased also by a large ratio. The lock socket, if used, prevents removal of the resistor and `also prevents changing of a lamp or the connectionof a power unit suchas a motor or the. like, or even a higher. wattage lamp, which would have the eiect of burning out the resistance. If a lock socket `is not used, the resistor l0 may still be locked in` position if desired. I provide the featuresdescribed in such a manner thatv an authorized person may utilize all or` any portion of the resistance of the variable resistance unit, or cut outthe resistance entirely if desi-red. A washer type resistor is advantageous in locations where an extension resistor is undesirable. Interference is decreased because the resistance unit does not show ontheoutside of the socket and unauthorized persons are less apt to tamper with it. 1

.v While the resistor of my present invention has particular utility for the purpose described, it may be used in any situation where it is desired to deliver at the socket a lower Voltage than providedgin the line running to such socket.

WhatI claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. 1 ,A` Washer type electrical resistor having a contact von each side, a wire wound resistance electrically connected to said contacts, an enclosure holding said wire resistance and contacts together and `enclosing the same, and spring meansprojecting slightly from the periphery of the enclosure so constructed and arranged that the, resistonmay be vpushed into a lamp socket and be held therein by said spring means, said resistor adapted to be installed in the same socket with a lamp whereby to decrease the voltage to said lamp and increase the life thereof.

2. A washer type electrical resistor having a contact on each side, a wire wound resistance electrically connected to said contacts, an enclosure holding said wire resistance and contacts together and enclosing the saine, and exterior threads on said enclosure to permit its being screwed into a socket shell, said resistor adapted to be installed in the saine socket with a lamp whereby to decrease the voltage to said lamp and increase the life thereof.

3. A washer type electrical resistor having a contact on one side thereof, a resistance wire helically Wound and having one end connected to said contact, a turnable contact arm having a contact portion engaging resistance windings, a second contact connected to said arm, an enclosure holding said contacts and said resistance windings together, said resistor adapted to be held in the same socket with a lamp, and adapted to controllably reduce the voltage to said lamp, whereby to increase the life thereof.

4. A washer type electrical resistor having a contact on one side thereof, a helically wound resistance wire having one end connected to said contact, a turnable pointer having a Contact portion engageable along the said windings, a second contact electrically connected to said pointer, means associated with said pointer for shunting out the resistance completely and an enclosure holding said contacts and resistance wire together, said resistor adapted to t into the same socket with a lamp to reduce the voltage thereto and prolong life, or to -deliver full voltage` as desired.

5. A washer type electrical resistor having a contact on one side thereof, a helically wound resistance Wire having one end connected to said contact, a turnable pointer having a contact portion engageable along the said windings, a second contact electrically connected to said pointer, means associated with said pointer for shunting out the resistance completely, an enclosure holding said contacts and resistance wire together, said resistor adapted to fit into the same socket with a lamp to reduce the voltage thereto and prolong life, or to deliver full voltage as desired, and means other than said shunting means for delivering full line voltage while said resistor is in a socket.

6. A washer type electrical resistor having selective means thereon movable between locking and non-locking positions for respective opposing and permitting removal from a socket prior to installing same, said resistor having a contact on each side thereof, a resistance wire electrically connected to said contacts and an enclosure holding said contacts and resistance Wire together, said resistor adapted to t in the same socket with a lamp, whereby to decrease the voltage delivered to said lamp, and increase the life thereof.

7. A resistor adapted to fit in the same socket with a lamp and functioning to decrease the voltage to the lamp and increase the life thereof, said resistor comprising a circular insulating disc having a contact secured at the center thereof, a disc of insulating material having a center opening, a re-sistance wire helically wound on said open center disc, a third insulating disc having a center contact with an inwardly extending radial arm, an enclosure clamping said discs tou gether with the said open center disc between the other two, said enclosure having center openings to expose said contacts, one end of said resistance wire being secured to the fir-st mentioned center contact, and said last mentioned center being rotatable to vary the resistance connected between the two center contacts, and means associated with said enclosure for supporting said resistor in a lamp socket.

S. A washer type electrical resistor having a contact on each side, a wire wound resistance electrically connected to said contacts, an enclosure holding said contacts and resistance wire together, one of said contacts centrally disposed whereby to align itself with a socket contact when inserted therein, the other of said contacts having a large central opening, whereby to permit insertion of a central contact as of a plug or the like entirely through said opening and make full voltage available in said socket or to insert a lamp using reduced voltage through the resistor and to increase the lamp life thereof.

LOUIS SOKOLOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STAFESy PATENTS 

